What a Weekend

With a home heavy schedule this year, the team has really enjoyed having more time on campus in front of the Whitman Community.  So, as we prepared for a whirlwind journey through the state of Washington with three matches in 2 days, there was a lot of excitement last week. 

The trip started with a 10am match at Whitworth in Spokane.  The Pirates are a great team, they always compete with class and through all the battles we've had with them, it's always an intense but positive experience.  Saturday was no different as a small traveling squad (for us) of 7 took to the 3 courts in the bubble for doubles.  I was looking to mix up our lineups both to reward everyone who is working so hard and improving so much with opportunities, and also to make sure we're not overworked oncourt or overwhelmed by school heading into our big spring break trip in a week.  In doubles, Morgan and Jenna set the tone with a big win to start us off at #2.  At #3, Maddy and Katrina struggled to find consistency and their opponents made them pay so it was up to Alyssa and Courtney to give us the lead.  They looked comfortable at #1, but a big fight from the Pirates made it close before we secured the 8-6 win.  In singles, we split up to use the three bubbled courts and three outdoor courts as the sun had warmed things up.  Courtney, Alyssa and Morgan were rock solid inside with only Morgan having to battle to win a second set tie break.  Outside, Jenna continued the run of singles wins, putting us up 6-1.  Maddy at 5 and Katrina in her first top 6 singles match at 6 both struggled with frustrating opponents and a huge slow down of speed from inside to outside.  Each lost a close, hard fought match which certainly was disappointing but how they carried themselves was so positive.  It was a tough day for those two, but showing their outstanding character, they gave credit to their opponents who really earned the wins and then they let their teammates support them in preparing for the next step.  The match was fast enough to get us on the road and to Tacoma in time to watch the live stream of our Whit Women's basketball team win the second round of NCAA's to move on to the sweet 16!!!!!

The UPS match on paper looked like an interesting one.  They are such a deep team in singles that I was so excited to get great matches for so many people.  True enough, after sweeping doubles and playing well in a close exhibition loss at #4 (Liv and Erin).  So, up 3-0, wanting to get more players in the lineup, I pulled Alyssa and everyone moved up.  Courtney took care of business at #1, Morgan played a marathon first three games, but came out on top with a straight set win at #2 and it was Jenna's turn to have an off day in singles at #3 so we had clinched the match 5-1.  At the same time, in three close first sets at 4-6, Rubes was down a set but rolling in the second 3-0, Erin was down a set but again trading close games in a VERY well played #5 match and Liv was up a set, taking the tiebreak and also trading close games in the second.  Erin's opponent came up with some great shots at key times, but I was proud of Erin's consistency and mentality, it was a great day for her tennis and a fun match.  Liv continued to play really well, but as her opponent raised her level the match fell to UPS in a third set tie break.  Liv's three setter and Rubes' match were very different.  While Liv battled it out in a match where there weren't many tactical changes, just who would execute, Rubes faced a player who she figured out after the first set, won the second 6-0, then the style changed again and it was a mental and physical battle in the third.  At 4-4, playing really well and gaining momentum, the UPS player hit a couple of lines to go up 5-4 and then was able to finish the match 6-4.  If this is any indication, we'll see continued development and great things from our younger Kate.  In exhibitions, Katrina turned the corner from her close match at Whitworth, winning in a tie break and Maggie played some of the best tennis, if not the best of the season, using her improved forehand to dictate points off her serve.  Unfortunately, she didn't quite figure out her opponent's big serve and lost the proset, but it was a great match for Mags.

With some lunch in the sun watching the Whitman Baseball team playing UPS, we then crossed town to play PLU.  With a different doubles lineup, the Kate's played with tremendous energy at 3 and the twins took care of business at 1 against a very good team of two freshmen and Liv and Mags pulled out a solid win at #4.  Court 2 was back and forth the whole match, with neither team getting more than a one game lead.  On serve late, KKP and Maddy held for 7-7 before a strong PLU hold and a break for the match.  As with UPS, this is the type of match we need to be in and it was great to feel the energy of a close college doubles match.  Singles was more one sided than in the morning with Courtney and Alyssa leading the way.  Morgan rested so Jenna played #3 and was up to the challenge, bouncing back from the am with a solid win.  Maddy's match at #4 looked routine after a 6-0 first set, but we all know in tennis anything can happen and after an amazing back and forth second set with both players getting more consistent and still hitting big shots, the match went to a long super tie break which Maddy pulled out 13-11!  What a mental battle for the sophomore and a great indicator of her toughness.  We also got solid wins from KKP at 5 and Rubes at 6.  Katrina played #8 and rolled in her proset using her serve and offense to create forced errors.  Liv was battling back and forth in a tight proset at 7 before getting a bad blister taped, then cruising in the remaining games for the singles sweep on the road!

It was a ton of tennis, a lot of driving to go both places in a weekend and we missed Hannah who was invited to an environmental law conference in Eugene, OR, but we had a wonderful time and in the van pulling into Walla Walla late at night there was much chatter of how excited everyone is for spring break.  We'll practice hard this week and have another double header on the road this Saturday in Portland before taking on Wash U (St. Louis) a week from today Monday 3/11 at the Claremont Tennis Club in Claremont, CA.

Thanks so much Rosemary and Frank for lunch, and to Layne and Mary for cheering at Whitworth as well as Dena, Jen, coach Dhavan, the Kunkel clan and Alyssa's westside family for being at the matches in Tacoma.  We're a well loved group and we APPRECIATE IT!

Next up from me will be this week's ITA national team rankings and a preview of our Spring Break trip.

Coach John